System and method of switching between multiple viewing modes in multi-head computer system

Abstract

The present technique provides a system and method for automatically switching a computer system between multiple display profiles in response to a system event, such as a hardware event. The present technique detects the system event, identifies the hardware configuration of the computer system, and automatically reconfigures the computer system to accommodate the hardware configuration in real-time. The system event may be a physical rotation of a display between landscape and portrait orientations or between viewing and writing orientations. The system event also may be a physical docking or undocking of a first computing device with a second device in a variety of mounting positions. Any suitable sensor, switch, or hardware/software detection mechanism may be used for the foregoing event detection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method executed by a computer system, comprising:
 detecting, by the computer system, a docking event between a tablet computer and a multi-positionable docking station; 
 detecting, by the computer system, a positional state of the tablet computer in the multi-positionable docking station; and 
 automatically changing, by the computer system, a viewing orientation between portrait and landscape orientations of images being displayed on a display of the tablet computer upon detecting the docking event to ensure that text and images are displayed in an upright and readable orientation for a user, 
 wherein the act of detecting the docking event comprises the act of sensing a coupling of the tablet computer and another display. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of detecting the docking event comprises the act of sensing a decoupling of the tablet computer from the multi-positionable docking station. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of detecting the positional state comprises the act of identifying an upright or writing screen surface position of the display, wherein the upright screen surface position includes a substantially vertical plane orientation with respect to a work surface, and wherein the writing screen surface position includes a substantially horizontal plane orientation with respect to the work surface. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of detecting the positional state comprises the act of identifying an orientational state of the display as either a landscape or portrait orientation. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising, choosing a writing configuration enabling user input by a computer pen for the display. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising, launching at least one software application on the display. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising, reinitializing viewing properties of the display. 
     
     
       8. A method executed by a computer system, comprising:
 detecting, by the computer system, a change of a physical configuration of the computer system including docking or undocking a mobile device with a multi-positionable docking device of the computer system, wherein the mobile device includes a first display and the multi-positionable docking device selectively includes a second display; and 
 automatically changing, by the computer system, a viewing orientation between portrait and landscape orientations of images being displayed on the first display upon detecting the changing of the physical configuration to ensure that text and images are displayed in an upright and readable orientation of the first display for a user. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of changing the physical configuration comprises the act of rotating the mobile device between landscape and portrait viewing orientations while the mobile device is docked with the multi-positionable docking device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of changing the physical configuration comprises the act of moving the mobile device between viewing and writing orientations, wherein the viewing orientation includes a generally vertical plane orientation of the first display with respect to a work surface that supports the mobile device, and wherein the writing position includes a generally horizontal plane orientation of the first display with respect to the work surface. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , comprising the act of selecting a view profile for at least one of a plurality of different physical configurations of a computer system. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , comprising the act of creating a view profile for a tablet computing device in each of a plurality of docked and undocked positions.